Illuminated toy balloon

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for illuminating the interior of a balloon includes a cylindrical plug with an integrally-formed radially extending integral flange insertable within the balloon neck. A light element is affixed to the plug and disposed within the neck. A battery is electrically connected to the light element and is typically mounted next to the light element, or includes the light element in a single assembly. Switching is provided to turn the lighting element on and off which, in the preferred embodiment is effected by inflating the balloon with the apparatus inserted into the balloon neck. The light element may be affixed to the head of the apparatus by magnetic means, by means of a screw-on cap, or by other well-known techniques.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to illuminated toy balloons. It furtherrelates to devices which may be inserted into toy balloons which causethem to be illuminated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to toy balloons and means for providinglight within such balloons either before or after the balloons areinflated, and with the ability to switch the light on or off.

BACKGROUND ART

The use of lights in association with balloons is well known. Examplesinclude U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,390,651 and 5,215,492. Also well known is theuse of chemiluminescent materials or light sticks that produce light bychemical reaction which may be inserted into balloons.

The present invention is an improvement over the prior art in which aninexpensive, self-powered apparatus is inserted into the neck of aballoon, which contains a small, energy-efficient light source poweredby a battery, and which has the ability to switch on and off.

The present invention further includes embodiments in which theapparatus can be inserted in the balloon, and the balloon then filledwith a gas such as helium. The apparatus can then be switched on or offas desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus whichwill illuminate the interior of a toy balloon. It is a further object ofthis invention that the apparatus be disposable.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention an apparatus is usedfor illuminating the interior of a balloon which has a neck portion. Theapparatus contains a plug insertable in part within the neck portion,which carries a light element attached to the plug. In use the plug isinserted into the balloon neck until the light element is secured withinthe neck portion.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention the apparatusincludes a battery electrically connected to the light element.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention the battery ismounted adjacent to the light element.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention switching means areused to turn the lighting element on and off.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention the plug has a body;and a radially extending integral flange formed at the upper end of thebody. In use, the plug is inserted into the body until the flange formsa seal at the lower end of the balloon neck, so as to prevent leakage ofgas from the balloon.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the invention a magnetic is used toaffix the light element to the plug.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the invention two or more barbs aredisposed so as to affix the light element near or on the plug.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the invention a screw-on cap isused to affix the light element near to or on the plug.

In accordance with an eighth aspect of the invention the switching meansare activated into the on state by the pressure of the gas within theballoon.

In accordance with a ninth aspect of the invention helium gas is used tofill the balloon.

In accordance with a tenth aspect of the invention a light assembly isincluded which has a threaded upper housing on which the light elementis affixed, and a threaded lower housing which mates with the threads ofthe upper housing. A battery is contained within the two housings andswitching is effected by screwing or unscrewing the upper housingrelative to the lower housing.

In accordance with a final aspect of the invention the light element isone or more LEDs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may bebest understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a balloon containing the apparatusfor illuminating the balloon interior.

FIG. 1A depicts a detail perspective view derived from FIG. 1, showingthe apparatus in greater detail.

FIG. 2A depicts a light element assembly containing a battery.

FIG. 2B depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatususing magnetic means to affix the light element to the plug.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 b, inwhich the light element assembly is magnetically affixed to the magnet.

FIG. 4A depicts an embodiment of the present invention in which thelight element is affixed by means of barbs.

FIG. 4B depicts an embodiment of the present invention in which thelight element is affixed by means of restraint fingers.

FIG. 4C depicts an embodiment in which the pressure of gas in theballoon switches on and off the lighting element, in the “off” position.

FIG. 4D depicts an embodiment in which the pressure of gas in theballoon switches on and off the lighting element, in the “on” position.

FIG. 5A depicts a prior-art balloon inflation device in cross sectionelevation view.

FIG. 5B depicts a prior-art balloon inflation device in top plan view.

FIG. 6A depicts a final embodiment of a lighted balloon inflation devicein cross section elevation view.

FIG. 6B depicts a final embodiment of a lighted balloon inflation devicein top plan view.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention may be understood by first referring to FIG. 1. Inthis figure the device 16 is inserted into the neck of a balloon, with acord 3 attached to the device restraining the balloon. The balloon isobviously filled with a gas, which may be air, helium, or similarlyinert gasses, in the case of balloons used as toys, on account of safetyconcerns. In other applications, where sufficient safeguards are taken,the gas need not be inert.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, the details of this device are revealed. Thedevice, in the form of a plug, contains a cylindrical body 3 which hasan integrally formed radially extending flange 7 which retains thedevice within the balloon. When the device is inserted into the neck 14of the balloon, the flange 7 causes the neck to provide a gas-tight sealjust above the neck ring 15 at the lower end of the neck, which providesstability for the balloon with the device inserted.

Still referring to FIG. 1A, a light-emitting assembly is shown disposedabove the flange 7. The assembly is made up of the light emittingsurface 13, which is rigidly affixed to a screw-on cap 12, whichattaches to the lower assembly housing 11. A battery which powers thelight-emitting assembly is contained within the lower housing andscrew-on cap. The user may turn the light on and off by screwing the capdown, and conversely screwing the cap in the opposite direction,relieving pressure and disconnecting power to the light element.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A the light-emitting assembly isrestrained in place by guides 8. Also contained in this embodiment is amagnet, not shown in this view, which is disposed below the base of thelight-emitting assembly.

The use of the magnet in this embodiment may be further understood byreferring next to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3. FIGS. 2A and 2B depict thelight-emitting assembly separated from the rest of the device. Thebattery 12, is clearly displayed in this figure, disposed entirelywithin the guides 8, and concentrically disposed directly upon theflange 7. FIG. 3 shows the two elements combined to form the deviceprior to insertion into the balloon. Still referring to these figures,the light-emitting assembly is mounted on the flange between the guides8, and restrained in place by the magnet 10, which attracts the steelbody of the light-emitting assembly 9. The body 4 of the device is inthe form of a tube, or cylinder, which is hollow, containing acylindrical chamber 5 and ending in a tab 6, which provides a hole towhich a cord may be attached.

In order to use the device, the balloon may first be filled, typicallywith helium, so that the balloon floats in the air. In one embodimentthe balloon is first filled with helium by means well known in the priorart, and which are not a part of this invention. The user pinches offthe neck to retain the helium within the balloon, and then quicklyinserts the device into the neck of the balloon. Once the insertion hasbeen accomplished, the flange 7 provides a seal so that the helium willnot escape from the balloon, except at a very, very slow rate.

In another variation of this invention, the device may contain a one-wayvalve, or check valve, permitting the helium to be inserted through thecylindrical chamber 5, but not allowing the helium to escape backthrough the chamber. In this embodiment the valve is located in the bodyof the device. Ports (not shown) are provided between the valve and thehead of the device to allow the helium to enter the balloon, but notescape.

In this embodiment the device is first inserted into the balloon neck,as shown in FIG. 1, before filling. The helium gas is then pumped inthrough the cylindrical channel 5 of the body 4, which allows theballoon to fill, until the gas is shut off, relieving the pressure inthe channel, and causing the check valve to shut off, retaining thepressure within the balloon indefinitely.

The prior art describes and claims a device such a one-way valve inZeyra, U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,204. Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B a basicvalve in accordance with said patent is shown. The head 109 of thisprior art device contains the radial flange 109F used for the samepurpose as in the present patent. The check-valve effect is accomplishedby means of the circular resilient disc 109A. The gas is introduced bymeans of the filler element 110 which is inserted into the head 109,creating pressure which forces the circular resilient disk 109A outwardagainst the guides 109F.

In the present invention a check valve mechanism may be inserted intothe body of the apparatus in order to effect the same end. Because suchcheck valves are well known in the art, and because they are not part ofthe present invention, they will not be further described here.

A variation of the prior art filler of FIGS. 5A and 5B is shown in FIGS.6A and 6B. A seen therein, a magnet 122 is mounted atop the lower cagefingers 109H, and is restrained in place by upper cage fingers 120. Inthis embodiment the magnet does not affect the operation of the checkvalve in the head, but provides a means for securely retaining thelight-emitting assembly.

When using the filler-type device which also illuminates the inside ofthe balloon, the device is first inserted into the balloon, and thenfilled with the helium after insertion. Such a variation has theadvantage of minimizing the amount of helium lost when the balloon isfirst filled and then the device is inserted afterwards.

In all of these embodiments the lighting element itself may be ofvarious types. The preferring lighting element is a light-emitting diode(hereinafter “LED”) because of the availability of many different typesof LEDs, available at very low prices, and further because of theextremely high efficiency and low power drain on the battery caused bythe LED. Among the variations commercially available are LEDs whichblink, which change color, and combinations of these two effects.

In addition to the magnetic mounting embodiment, many differentapproaches to mounting of the LED are proposed herein as furtherembodiments. Referring first to FIG. 4A, the assembly holding thelight-emitting element 13 is restrained by barbed fingers 25. Theembodiment shown in this figure contains a self-contained light-emittingelement having its own battery. It is clear that embodiments in whichthe battery and LED are separate units may also be used.

In FIG. 4B, a retaining ring 20 is force-fit over a mating enclosure 21which contains the light-emitting element and battery. In a variation ofthe embodiment of FIG. 4B a screw-on retaining ring mates with matingthreads on the enclosure 21.

Alternative versions are proposed herein for the switching of the lightelement on and off. In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1A theuser must rotate the upper housing 12 relative to the lower housing 11,as previously stated.

In a final alternative embodiment, the filling of the balloon withhelium is used to switch the light element on. Referring first to FIG.4C, this embodiment contains a battery 22 which is in permanentelectrical contact with positive terminal of the LED assembly 13. Groundconnection is made by metallic element 23, which is configured to keepthe helium from passing into the balloon. Helium enters the balloon onlythrough the port 24. In FIG. 4C helium has not yet been inserted intothe balloon: element 23 blocks the helium from entering the balloonexcept through port 24. As the helium is first introduced contactelement 23 blocks port 24. At this stage the helium will force contactelement 23 upwards until contact is made with the negative electrode ofthe battery, thereby completing the electrical circuit and causing theLED to illuminate, as shown in FIG. 4D. The teeth on mating enclosure21, contact element arms 26, and light-element arms 27 form a ratchetmechanism, so that the contact element will stay in the position of FIG.4D once the balloon is filled with helium, which is facilitated as thecontact element rises to clear port 24, allowing the gas into theballoon through this route.

While the invention has been described with reference to specificembodiments, it will be apparent that improvements and modifications maybe made within the purview of the invention without departing from thescope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

1. An illuminated inflator for inserting into the neck of a toy balloon,comprising: (a) a gastight, cylindrical plug comprising a center and anupper and lower end; (b) a hollow filler tube comprising an upper andlower end, the hollow filler tube extending through the center of theplug, with the lower end of the hollow filler tube extending below thelower end of the plug; (c) a substantially cylindrical stop valve,affixed to the upper end of the hollow filler tube, and concentric withthe plug; (b) a substantially cylindrical lower assembly, comprising abattery, affixed in proximity to the upper end of the stop valve andconcentric with it; c) a substantially cylindrical upper assembly,comprising a light element, affixed to the lower assembly and concentricwith it, the inflator being sufficiently compact, light weight, andbalanced in weight so that when it is inserted into the toy balloon withthe cylindrical plug in the neck of the balloon, the bottom of thehollow filler tube extending below the neck of the balloon, and theupper and lower assemblies within the balloon, then when the toy balloonis subsequently filled with gas through the hollow filler tube, theballoon can float freely in the air without support.
 2. The illuminatedinflator of claim 1, further comprising switching means to turn thelight element on and off disposed in proximity to the neck portion. 3.The illuminated inflator of claim 2, further comprising magnetic meansto affix the upper assembly to the lower assembly.
 4. The illuminatedinflator of claim 2, further comprising two or more barbs disposed so asto affix the upper assembly to the lower assembly.
 5. The illuminatedinflator of claim 2, further comprising a screw-on cap to affix theupper assembly to the lower assembly.
 6. The illuminated inflator ofclaim 2, wherein the switching means further comprise gas pressure meansfor changing from the “off” state into the “on” state.
 7. Theilluminated inflator of claim 2 wherein said electronic light elementfurther comprises one or more LEDs.
 8. The illuminated inflator of claim2 wherein said electronic light element further comprises one or moreLEDs.
 9. An illuminated inflator for inserting into the neck of a toyballoon, comprising: (a) a gastight, cylindrical plug comprising anupper and lower end; (b) a hollow filler tube comprising an upper andlower end, the hollow filler tube extending through the plug, with thelower end of the hollow filler tube extending below the lower end of theplug; (c) a stop valve, affixed to the upper end of the hollow fillertube; (b) a lower assembly, comprising a battery, affixed in proximityto the upper end of the stop valve; (c) an upper assembly, comprising alight element, affixed to the lower assembly, the inflator beingsufficiently compact, light weight, and balanced in weight so that whenit is inserted into the toy balloon with the cylindrical plug in theneck of the balloon, the bottom of the hollow filler tube accessible atthe neck of the balloon, and the upper and lower assemblies within theballoon, then when the toy balloon is subsequently filled with gasthrough the hollow filler tube, the balloon can float freely in the airwithout support.
 10. The illuminated inflator of claim 9, wherein thehollow filler tube extends through the center of the plug.
 11. Theilluminated inflator of claim 10, wherein the stop valve, and the upperand lower assemblies are substantially cylindrical in shape.
 12. Theilluminated inflator of claim 11, wherein the stop valve, and the upperand lower assemblies are concentric with the plug.
 13. The illuminatedinflator of claim 12, wherein the hollow filler tube extends below theneck of the balloon.
 14. A method for filling a toy balloon with gas andilluminating the balloon from within, the method comprising the steps,in order, of: (a) assembling an inflator in accordance with claim 9; (b)inserting the inflator into the toy balloon, with the plug of theinflator within the neck of the balloon; (c) filling the balloon withgas, by blowing the gas through the hollow filler tube; (d) removing theinflator from the toy balloon and inserting into another toy balloon;and (e) repeating steps b through (d).
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the inflator further comprises switching means for turning thelighting element on and off, the method further comprising turning thelighting element on and off.